Why Check?

Testing property for Meth Contamination before buying can save you thousands!

Nationwide leaders
Landlords everywhere need to understand the importance of educating themselves on meth labs and use in rental properties, especially on the physical dangers and the immense financial impact. Many cities across Australia are seeing a rise in the production of methamphetamine, or meth / ice.

When people move into a dwelling they are most likely to be unaware of previous illicit operations. These individuals may have family members who include infants and young children, are pregnant, elderly, frail or have compromised health, placing them at increased risk. Methylamphetamine contamination may persist for years on all surfaces in the home, including within the building materials.

What Are The Effects Of Exposure

The most significant effects related to methylamphetamine exposure, include: neurochemical changes in areas of the brain that are associated with learning, potentially affecting cognitive function, behaviour, motor activity and changes in avoidance responses; psychotic, physiological and behavioural / developmental effects that include violent behaviour, depression, irritability, hallucinations, mood swings, paranoia, mood and sleep disorders. Prolonged exposure to methylamphetamine also causes cardiovascular effects including increased heart rate, blood pressure and at higher or sustained exposure, chest pain, hypertension and the risk of stroke (Ministry of Health 2010).

Health Risk Estimation

It is likely that many hundreds of children (about 10% toddlers) have/are being exposed to clan lab contamination and this is likely to be in terms of thousands if undetected clan labs are included (assuming a 1:10 ratio). The corresponding numbers of adults including other sensitive groups are likely to be even higher.  enHealth, January, 2017

How Many Labs Are Out There?

Nationwide leaders
The growth in Labs in Australia is not slowing down. For the hundreds of detected labs, there will be many thousands more labs that may never be identified and will continue to operate until eventually abandoned leaving property owners with the clean up.

Contaminated Property

Nationwide leaders
The making and smoking of meth contaminates property, leaving owners with significant repair bills and placing property managers at legal risk. About 1 in 10 clan labs are thought to be detected in Australia, while others continue to operate until they are eventually abandoned or relocated (Newell 2008). The number may be higher than this as data from New Zealand indicates that 32% of frequent drug users in 2011 indicated that they cooked (or had an attempt at cooking) their own drugs (Wilkins et al. 2012).

Bad Tenants

Tenants smoking meth
caused health risk.

32% of frequent drug users in 2011 indicated that they cooked (or had an attempt at cooking) their own drugs (Wilkins et al. 2012).

Health Warnings

Tenants smoking meth
caused health risk.

Exposures in Former Clan Labs  There have been reports of people, including children, exposed to/living in un- remediated labs with throat irritations, skin irritation and burns, nausea, respiratory difficulties and headaches (New York Times 2009; Wright, Edwards & Walker 2016).  

Legal Responsibility

Tenants smoking meth
caused health risk.

The Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (RTRA Act) stipulates: "…a tenant must…(not) use the premises for an illegal purpose…" Where does this leave the property manager/owner who has a contaminated property?

Costly Repairs

Tenants smoking meth
caused health risk.

The cost of professional decontamination can be horrendous – averaging between $5000 and $35,000 and more – many landlords attempt to do the clean up themselves, and may put the property on the market in an attempt to avoid future liability.

Pregnancy

Tenants smoking meth
caused health risk.

Significant risk factors also apply in regard to pregnant women given that methylamphetamine will cross the placental barrier and adversely impact on the developing foetus (Ganapathy et al. 1999).

Family Security

Tenants smoking meth
caused health risk.

During drug manufacturing and USE, toxic gasses and aerosols are produced. Chemicals used as precursors, and produced as by-products or drug products, can be present in the air and deposited onto surfaces within the home. 

Contact Office

Phone: 0410 532 455
testing@australianmethinspectors.com.au
Australian Meth Inspectors